Power-driven automobile lift



July 14, 1953 P. STABILE v2,645,367

POWER-DRIVEN AUTOMOBILE LIFT Filed April 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 2*+

3 2 125 BY Peier Stab2e July 14, 1953 P. STABILE ,645,

POWER-DRIVEN AUTOMOBILE LIFT Filed April 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 u r 55 '6 39 I i l 3 i 1 5/ 54 Peter J'tahdle 177 Iv/VIZ 'Y."

July 14, 1953 P. STABILE 215454367 POWER-DRIVEN AUTOMOBILE: LIFT Filed April 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 14, 1953 P. STABILE POWER-DRIVEN AUTOMOBILE LIFT Filed April 7, 1948 INVENTOR. Peler Stah'le f Fig." 16.

Patented July 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,545,367 r POWER-DRIVEN AUTOMOBILE LIFT Peter Stabile, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application April v, 1948; Serial No. 19,593

The purpose of my invention is to create a lifting means for automobiles to any floor or roof of a building and also for storing automobiles. A

box retaining the automobile is used to lift the automobile.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. a Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper left exchanging means. Figure 5 is a section taken on the line of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6 -6 of Fig. 4.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of Fig. 4 showing the fork in moved position. a t

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line'88 of Fig. 2 showing the lower left exchanging means.

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.) i

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line l0|lJ of Fig. 8.

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line H-|| of Fig. 8.

Figure 12 is a section taken on the line [2-42 of Fig. 11.

Figure 13 is a section taken of Fig. 2.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper right exchanging means.

on the line |s-|3 Figure 15 is a section taken on the line l5-I5 of Fig. 14. I

Figure 16is a section taken on the line I6-l6 of Fig. 14.

Figure 1'7 is a similar view moved position; l

Figure 18 is a-section on the line l8l8 of Fig. 15. a I I Figure 19 is a section on the line Ill-19 of Fig. 18. i

Figure 20 is a section taken on the line 20-20 to Fig. 16 but in Figure 21 is a similar view to the Figures 16 and 17 but in moved position and a fragmentary view.

2 Claims. (Cl. 214- 161) Referring specifically to the drawings in which a power driven automobile lift also functions as an automobile parking device constructed so as to facilitate the maximum automobile parking in a minimum of space and is so arranged that the automobiles will be stored in a building I primarily of four walls, floor and ceiling 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The two'inner walls 5 run the full length of the building and act as bearing supports.

In principle, the storage of the automobile is conducted in a continuous moving chain arrangement. A motor 6 is fastened to the bracket 1 extending inwardly near the ceiling of the building and drives a reducing box 8 through the chain 9. The said reducer in turn drives two sprocket wheels [0 by the chains l I, said sprocket wheels are journaled on the shafts I 2. This is I! again drives the sprocket l9on the shaft 20 i All the sprocket wheels in through the chain 2|. this chain drive are of the same diameter thus creatingone speed on the shafts l2l3ll20.

Journaled at the end of the shafts l2 are the sprocket wheels 22 which drive the actual lifting chains 23, said chainsrunning on a horizontal plane to a second sprocket wheel 24 then down vertically to the sprocket 25, horizontally to a sprocket 26 and then back to the sprocket 22. This is called the slow drive.

Journaled at the end of the shaft I! are the sprocket wheels 21 which are twice the diameter of sprocket 22 thus providing a drive exactly two times the speed of the chain 23.

A chain 28 drives horizontally to the sprocket 29 of the same diameter as the sprocket 21 then vertically to the smaller sprocket 30, then to the idler 3|, thus completing the circuit. This is called the fast drive and is located near the upper then the sprocket 35 and vertically to the sprocket 36, then returns horizontally to the sprocket 32.

This drive is located near the lower section of the drive 23 and is also known as the fast drive.

All the drives are directly inline as may be seen in Fig. 1.

The links of the chain 23 are so constructed to permit a special pin 3'! to be inserted approximately every seven feet of the length of the chain. A special pin 38 is also inserted in even progression on the chains 28 and 33 which carries a similar number of special pins 39.

The pins 31, 38 and 39 are of similar construction, consisting of a hollow shell 40, a plunger 4I having a cam 42 and turned down shank 53, the shoulder of which accommodates a spring 44. The other end of the spring bears against collar 5.5 which is placed at a desired distance in the hollow shell 40 and held in place by a set screw 46. The pins 31 and 39 carry-a cross pin 41 which extends at right angles from the opposite end of the hollow shell 40. A pluralityof automobile and storage carriers 48 .are provided,.

each one being carried by a pin 31 during vertical travel. The said carriers are of a.suitable construction to accommodate a standard size automobile or light commercial 'truck. The ceilings'are angular ending at the peak in a strong bracket 99 at each end. Each of said brackets iii-carries a strong extending lug 50 surmounted by a vertical rod 5! which in turn carries a cross bar 52, the two arms of which are 'of difierent lengths 53 and 54. The-cross bars 52 rest on the pins 31 in vertical upward and downward movements. It will be seen in Fig. 2, that when the carriers 48 are on the downward passage, the long end-53 rests on the pin 3'! and on upward passage the short end 54 rests on the pin 31. 7

As the carrier is brought over the chain 28 it is carried on the cross bar 52 by the pin 38 at twice the speed as the chain 23 over the sprocket 29 and then downward vertically to a point where the cross bar will-come to rest on a rectangular bar 55 which is housed in a shell 55, anchored horizontally in the wall 5 by the bracket '55. The

said bar is provided with a rack 51 at its lower surface which en ages :with the gear-wheel 58 on the shaft 59, the said gear wheel being of the same ratioand integral with the gear S0, loose on the stud 59; which is in mesh with a segrnent gear '6I on the shaft 52. Opposite the segment gear but integral with it is a fork member 03 of suitable curved form. As the pin .31 of the chain 23 rides downward "and is forced over the pin 52, the cross 'pin'4l will engage the slot of the fork 53 driving it downward around the shaft 02, actuating the gearsBI and 90 thus pulling in the bar 55 into its housing. At the same instant of release of the bar 550p the cross bar 52 the plunger M of the pin 3'! will slip over the surface of bar 52 and by pressure of the spring 44 will snap under the bar 52 thus continuing the downward movement of the carrier 4.8. Upon release of the pin 4-! from the fork .6-3, a strong coil spring 64 on the shaft 92 will return fork upward to its normal position against the stop pin64 on the housing :56. This movement is exemplified in Figs. 4-5-6-7.

After continuing downwardly, the cross bar .52 will come to rest on the rectangular bar 65 which is a part of a similar movement .as explained in Figures ll-5 6 but in reverse. The pin 39 of the chain 33 will come around the sprocket 35 and downward. The cross pin 4'! of the pin 39 will engage the slot of thecurved fork 66 which again is integral with a segment gear 61, loose on the stud .68. The said segment meshes with a gear 59. The gear 69 is integral with the gear ll which is in mesh with the rack I2 on the undersurface of bar '65. .It will be seen that the bar 65 will again be forced into the shell 13 which is anchored to the pin H2 in the fork IIIl.

then force the curved rod I03 upwardly, pulling 4 the wall 5 by the bracket I4 thus releasing the cross bar 52. At this same instant the plunger M of the pin 39 will have slid around the surface of the bar 52 and by action of the spring 44 will go under the bar 52. Upon release of the pin 4| from the fork 66, the strong coil spring I5, will force the fork upward thus pulling the bar 65 out of its shell and ready to receive the next cross bar 52.

'Upon traversing the length of the horizontal portion of the chain 33 at high speed, thecarrier is brought around the sprocket 32 and then upward vertically. After passing over the center of the sprocket .32, .the cross bar 52 will engage the cam surface I6 of the rectangular bar 'I'I thus forcing the bar into its shell 18 which is horizontally anchored in the wall 5 by the bracket I9; "A spring'BIltakes up the distance required for passage of the cross bar 52. Upon full passage of the cross bar 52 the bar 'II will be forced out again and under the .cross bar thus holding it, whereupon the pin 39 of the chain 33 has turned sufii- V ciently around the sprocket 32 to disengage its action on the cross bar 52. The pin 8'! of the chain 23 will against come'up and take along the cross bar 52 on .its vertical climb in low speed.

Upon completion of the vertical'climb of the cross bar 52 on the pin 31, the cross bar again comes into contact with a cam surface SI 'of the rectangular bar 82 thus forcing the bar 82 into its housing 83 which is horizontally anchored to the bracket 84 on the wall '5. A'coil spring 85 straddles the turned shank 86 of the bar 82 at its farther end'and is held in place by the collar 81. The motion of the bar 82 contracts the spring 85 against the c-o1lar8l. By this same motion a pin 83 depending from the undersurface of the bar, and riding in the slot 89 of the housing 83 will force a fork 90, integral with the crank arm 9|, which is pivoted on a stationary shaft 92, in a rearward direction. The other arm 93 of the crank arm 9I carries at its end a vertical housing 94 which houses a squared pawl 95. Said pawl95 rides against a segment ratchet 95 by action of the coil spring 91 against the collar 98 and the pawl 95. Theshank 99 of the pawl is slotted at I00 to engage the set screw which also holds the collar 98 thus preventing the pawl from turning on .its main body IN. The upperend of the shanki99 has keyed to'it a collar I02 which is integral with a curved rod I03. As the crank arm 9I is turned into .a clockwise direction the pawl will engage each tooth of the segment. A horizontal iarm. I204 extending :fiiom the ratchet 96 carries a long vertical pusher member I05 which is of slightly larger width than the chain 23 and directly against it. Upon release of the 'bar 82 from the cross :bar 52, Fig. 1'7, said bar will take up its normal position by action of the spring 85 thus turning the crank arm 9I in counterclockwise direction. The pawl'95 will carry along the ratchet 9 6 and the pusher I05 will move the chain 23 away from the natural vertical position thus releasing the pin-41 from the cross bar 52. Following this action the next lower pin 3''! on the chain23 forces the cam rod1'06 of the crank arm I01 around the pivot I08. A crank member I09 having two extending forks IIO-and II I, is pivotally mounted to the main bracket 84.. The said forks H0 and -I II are turned in clockwise direction by action of the end of the arm I0! against The fork III will along the pawl 95 against the spring 91 thus releasing "the pawl from the ratchet. The ratchet 96 will'then turn in clockwise directionby action of the coil spring I I 3 which has one end anchored at a stationary collar II I held against the shaft 92 by the set screw II 5 until the said ratchet abuts against the vertical rod I I6 extending from the arm II! of the collar H4, Figures 18 and 21. It will now be seen that the arrangement is now reset from the next cross arm 52 to engage the bar 82 and repeat the foregoing procedure.

It is quite apparent from the drawings that the cross bar 52 when in engagement with the pins 31, 38, and 39 is not supported at the center thereof. To counteract this state of unbalance, each carrier 48 is provided on each side thereof with two angle rails II8 extending the full height of the carriers and having the ends rounded at H9. As the carriers proceed downward on pins 31 in low speed they would naturally swing to the left, therefore, a series of rollers I29 are provided on the wall 2 rotatably mounted on the brackets I2I which engage the rails I It on the left side of the carriers thus providing balance. As the carriers proceed to the horizontal plane of the chain 33 in high speed, two slide plate members I2I are suspended from floor 3 by strong springs I22 which are anchored in the cups I23. As the carriers proceed the bottoms will slide along thus providing balance. The upwardvertical travel of the carriers is accomplished in the same manner as the downward travel. As the carriers proceed to the upper horizontal plane, the tops of the cross bars 52 will engage similar plates I24 which are suspended by rods I25 from the brackets I26 extending from the side walls 2 and 5. Th springs I21 butt against the plates and brackets, taking up the pressure as the carriers come to their full height and continue across in high speed. The rods I25 will recede into the hole in the brackets. The wall opening for the drive in is designated I28 and I29 the floor of the housing or carrier.

The carriers are approximately seven feet apart. The number of carriersare not limited. The size of the carriers may vary depending upon the tonnage required.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that the carriers are supported by transverse bars 52 which rest upon pins 31 and are therefore moved upwardly or downwardly in a vertical direction upon the travel of chain 23. Similarly, the carriers are supported and moved in a transverse or horizontal direction when resting upon pins 38 provided on chains 28. The transfer of the carriers from pins 31 to pins 38 and reversely from pins 38 to pins 31 is accomplished by permitting crossbar 52 to momentarily rest upon rectangular bar 55 until an appropriate pin travelling in a direction normal thereto picks up and supports said transverse bar 52 thereby altering the direction of travel of the carrier. The transfer of the carrier from horizontal travel when supported by chain 28 to vertical downward travel when supported by chain 23 is accomplished by permitting portion 53 of bar 52 to rest upon rectangular bar55. As a pin 31 passes bar 53, the plunger 4| of said pin engages the surface of portion 53 of bar 52 and said plunger is moved inwardly engaging fork 83 and causing rectangular bar 55 to be retracted as pin 3! passes bar 53 so that when plunger 4| is caused to be moved outwardly by means of spring 44 it snaps under portion 53 of bar 52 thereby effectively transferring the support of the carrier to chain 23.

Although the drawings and specification disclose the best manner in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire in, no way to be limited to the details of my disclosure. Further slight changes in proportions may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention within the broad scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A power lift and storage device for automobiles, comprising a frame having at least two opposing parallel support members, sprocket wheels rotatably carried by said supports, a sprocket chain belt carried by said sprocket wheels to form a continuous loop in the plane of each of said supports, inwardly extending projecting pins secured to said chains along spaced intervals thereof, a plurality of vehicle carriers, transverse bars secured to each end of said carriers said bars being adapted to rest upon said pins whereby said carriers are dependingly supported between said supports upon said. pins for movement in a vertical direction upon the travel of said chains, second sprocket wheels rotatably carried by said supports located within the area defined by said first chain loops, second sprocket chains carried by said second sprocket wheels forming additional continuous loops in the plane of each of said supports located adjacent the upper and lower portions of said first chains, in-

wardly extending projecting pins secured to said second chains along spaced intervals thereof adapted to dependingly support said carriers by means of said transverse bars for movement of said carriers in a horizontal direction upon the travel of said second chains, means including a reciprocable bar interposed between said first and second chains for transferring said carriers for movement in a continuous loop and power means for imparting movement to said chains through said sprocket wheels.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises a reciprocable bar interposed between said first and second chains adapted to momentarily support said carrier upon completion of its movement in one direction by means of one of said chains and until the supporting pin of the other of said chains abuts with and. supports said carrier.

PETER STABILE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

